I was beginning to regret telling Casey to stop seeing me during school hours. I hadn't realized how much her presence gave me energy until she stopped coming by. I was more than glad that the weekend was here. I wanted to spend as much time with Casey as possible. 

I glance into the cafe just down the street from our apartments. My feet stop as I spot Casey sitting at one of the tables. I frown remembering she told me she'd be busy this morning, so why was she lounging around in a cafe? Was this something she couldn't invite me for? I eye the girl through the glass a bit longer until I feel someone bump into me.

My eyes are pulled away from my girlfriend and lands on the new face I'd grown a bit accustomed to. "Oh, Good morning Kathryn" Naomi smiles.

"Morning, Naomi. How are you?" I question making small talk. The woman smiles and pushes her hair behind her ear. "Great! I actually have a date and I'm kind of nervous" she admits.

I chuckle, "Nothing to be nervous about, you're a beautiful woman. I'm sure your date will love you" I smile kindly. She sighs and glances into the cafe. "I sure hope you're right about that."

My brows knit together as I follow her line of sight and sure enough, her eyes were on Casey Kings. I clench my jaw and try to hide my jealousy. Casey didn't mention anything about a date. "Uh, who's the lucky man?" I question, maybe I was overthinking it.

Naomi smiles, "Lady actually. Do you see the girl in the cafe? Her name's Casey. We met last week, I helped her pay for her coffee and asked for her number. She's really beautiful and nice."

I bite harshly on my cheek to stop myself from saying anything rude. Surely if Casey were having a date, she would tell me. Maybe it slipped her mind, maybe she would tell me later on in the day. I couldn't just get mad at her so quickly, I had to be understanding. "Well, I hope you have a fun date. I should get going" I say.

Naomi shoots me a smile. She walks around me and enters the cafe. I glance into the cafe watching as she approached Casey. I watch my girlfriend set her phone down and stand to greet the woman. I grit my teeth and force my eyes away and force myself not to linger on the two. 

- - - - -

"Maybe you just saw incorrectly. I don't think Casey's the type to cheat" Emily sighs and pats my back. I groan loudly before taking another sip of my beer. I didn't want to think Casey was the cheating type, I doubted she was that kind of person, but why else would she hide such a thing from me? No one doesn't tell their girlfriend they have a date.

I would be fine if she had told me beforehand that she had a date because that means I can trust her to tell me the truth. But she didn't. I didn't even know she knew Naomi. They met a week ago? Has she been texting her? Have they been flirting? What was it about Naomi that Casey didn't want to tell me?

"You're in your head again. Kathryn, Casey wouldn't cheat on you. Maybe she didn't tell you because she didn't think it was important."

I frown at my best friends. "You know Em, you're so full of shit" I spit. I could feel the alcohol getting to me. I was on my 6th bottle anyways. The blonde furrows her brows at my tone so I continue to elaborate. "If I was still with Thomas or anyone else, immediately they're cheating on me. But now that my partner is a girl you doubt she'd cheat."

"Kathryn it's not that--"

"Then what is it? Why are you so biased towards women? Not all women are better than men! I bet if Casey were a man you would be all on her case and claiming how much he was a cheat and such a bad partner."

Emily sighs and grabs the beer from my hand, "I think you've had enough to drink."

I slap her hand away and pull the bottle to my lips, taking the last swig of my beer. Once I'm done I throw the bottle behind me, hearing it break on the floor. Emily lets out a breath and pinches my side. I can only slap her hand away as I head towards the door.

The blonde grabs my hand, "Where the hell do you think you're going?" she questions. "Home, where else would I go?" Emily shook her head as she pulled me back and away from the door. "Kathryn you must be out of your mind if you think I'm about to let you drive while you're intoxicated. And I don't think it's smart for you to go home when you're not in your right headspace. You might say something stupid to Casey and ruin your whole damn relationship."

I roll my eyes. "And what makes you think Casey hasn't already ruined our whole damn relationship?" I hiss.

The woman shakes her head, denying any accusations of Casey being a cheater. "I hate you" I hiss at the blonde. She eyes me with a stern look, "You can hate me all you want Kat, but I'm not going to let you sever that relationship. You worked too hard to get where you are to let some petty jealousy ruin that. Casey makes you happy and that's all I ever wanted for you so please just stop fighting me and stay here. Please."

I let out a breath as my eyes scan over her face. I could see the sincerity. I roll my eyes and glance away from her. She lets my wrist go cautiously. I don't make a break for the door so she lets out a breath of relief. 

After a while, Emily guides me into the guest room. Once in bed, I glance at my best friend. "I don't hate you. I was just mad" I spit.

Emily nods her head with a small smile, "I know you don't. You'd be an idiot to hate me. Now get some rest, you can go home in the morning when alcohol is no longer in control of your thought process." I chuckle and nod my head. She kisses my forehead before exiting the room and leaving me to my thoughts.

I knew Casey wasn't the type to cheat. Or at least she didn't give off the vibe that she would ever do so. But it hurt to know that she would keep this away from me. It hurt that even though it was this late at night, she still hadn't told me about her date. I didn't know what hurt more. The fact that she didn't tell me or the fact that this woman was my co-worker.

Surely Casey knew she was a teacher. Naomi was still relatively new so she was the center of attention in the school. Did Casey tell her about me? Did she tell Naomi she had a girlfriend? Or was she pretending to be single?

The more my mind pondered on all the questions, the heavier my heart got. I shake my head as I lay on my side. Maybe I was overthinking everything. I needed to push away this toxic jealousy. I needed to trust my girlfriend. Trust that she would never hurt me. 

I sigh and close my eyes. Casey loves me, she won't hurt me.

- - - - -

I rub sleep from my eyes as I exit the guest room. Before I can call out to Emily, I'm engulfed in a bear hug. I sigh into the hug as I shove my face into the crook of her neck and inhale her scent. As per usual, there's an eruption of butterflies in the pit of my stomach. The girl pulls away, "You weren't answering your phone all night I was worried."

I chuckle softly, "Nothing to be worried about. I spent the night here since I was tipsy" I admit. I scan over Casey's face and bite on my cheek. She notices the change in my attitude. "Are you okay?" she questions.

I nod my head, ignoring my probing thoughts. "How was your day yesterday?" I question, remembering her 'date' with Naomi. Casey shrugs her shoulders, "It was fine. I was out majority of the day so when I got home and didn't see your car I was worried. You should've told me you would be here."

I bite on my lip to stop myself from saying anything petty. My eyes meet Emily's blue irises. She shrugs her shoulders. Maybe I was over exaggerating. I press my hands on Casey's shoulders, pushing her away. "Well, I'm fine babe. Nothing to worry about" I lie.

Russet brown eyes scan over my face as if detecting my lie but she just smiles and nods her head. Casey wraps her arm around my waist, "C'mon let's go home" she whispers before pressing her lips against my own. "Yeah, I'll see you there. I can't leave my car here, remember."

The brown-skinned girl smiles. She kisses my cheek once again before heading towards the door. Once she's outside I turn to Emily with raised brows. She bites on her lip before nodding her head. "Okay, maybe I was a bit biased because she's my favorite student. She still didn't tell you about her date."

I groan. There were too many possibilities to this and I wasn't ready for any of it.